Roswell Fanatics

Part 21

“You ready for this?” Serena asked Alex. Alex licked his lips nervously and nodded.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He answered. He reached out to hold Serena’s hands on the table. Both their hands rested on the photograph that Serena had managed to take from his house when she went to Roswell last night.

The picture taken at the prom. Alex glanced at Liz who was also sitting next to Serena, tugging her hair nervously.

“You sure this will work?” she asked.

“To be honest, I’m not sure. But since Alex appears to be so sensitive to your presence, I’m hoping that will help him reach the others.” Serena told her.

“I’ll reach them.” Alex said confidently, more confident than he felt.

“Now remember, even if you reach them in their wakened state, you might not be able to contact them. They might never even notice or feel you. You also have very little time. I can’t control it for too long. So you have to be quick.” Serena cautioned.

Alex nodded. “Let’s do it.”

Serena nodded and closed her eyes, Alex did the same. At first he didn’t feel anything but then he felt himself being pulled down, lights flashed before his eyes and finally there was darkness. In the centre of the darkness stood the door of the Crash Down. It looked awkward, just the door standing on nothing but blackness but Alex moved towards it, hoping that this would work.



~~ Dream walk ~~

The door to the Crash Down opened in front of him as if by an invisible hand. He walked in and looked around. They were all there. Michael, Maria, Kyle, Max, Isabel and Tess. They all looked so sad, each in their own thoughts. He walked over to the table where Kyle, Tess and Max were sitting. He waited for them to look up at him but they just stared glumly at each other, not even noticing that he was there.

“A month today…” Tess whispered quietly.

“I remember…how could we not.” Isabel answered quietly from where she was sitting next to Maria on the stools.

“Isabel?” Alex said, trying to get her attention but Isabel didn’t even glance at him as she looked at Max.

“You okay Max?” she asked.

Max looked up from the napkin he was shredding. “Hmm?” he asked distractedly. Alex noticed the far off look in his eyes and knew instantly that he could only be thinking about Liz. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

Alex tried to point out that he looked far from okay but again no one heard him.

“It’s time we let them go.” Tess said. She paused, as if anticipating a sharp comment. When no one said anything she went on. “We don’t have a choice, not if we want to stay alive.”

Everyone looked at her quietly but unresistingly. They knew she was right. They weren’t sure how to let go.

Alex looked about him and ached to be with them again. He didn’t want to live so far away from them. He wanted to be a part of it all; he wanted to be a part of Isabel’s life.

“Alex…you don’t have much time…” Serena’s voice floated through the café.

Alex nodded to it, forgetting that Serena, though helping him do this, couldn’t see him here. He looked at the people sitting and wondered who to tell. He glanced at Isabel, pondering whether it would be wise. But then he shook his head, he knew she wouldn’t be able to handle this. He needed someone who was strong enough to do this. Instantly his eyes fell on Maria.

Maria! She may not have believed Liz’s theory but he knew that if she had enough to go on she would come through for them. He went to her quickly and touched her hand lightly.

“Maria?” he said softly, trying to make her listen to him, to make her aware of his presence. There was no response from Maria as she played with her apron. “’Ria?”

Still there was no reaction from her. Alex looked disappointed. He had hoped this would work. He and Liz and both had been hoping like crazy that it would work.

“I miss you Maria.” He whispered to her, dejected.

Maria jerked her head up suddenly and looked about confused. Alex started when he saw her looking a bit unsure. “Maria?” he asked again, this time he knew that she had heard him.

“Alex?” Maria whispered quietly. Her eyes glimmered with puzzlement but also joy. “I miss you, Alex.”

Alex grinned happily as he hurried on to give his message. He knew that the connection could break any time.

“Maria, listen to me.” Alex said hurriedly. “You have to believe! You have to! Find out what happened!”

But by now Maria’s face had gone blank again. She shook her head slightly, clearing her head.

“No, no, no!” Alex ranted, trying to keep her connection. “Dammit!”

He grabbed her hand but wasn’t quiet able to hold it since he didn’t have a form. “Listen to me ‘Ria. We need your help! You’re the only one who can do it!” He thought desperately of something that would give her a hint should she remember. He wasn’t sure what to tell her. He didn’t understand half of what he remembered. Then he remembered what had given Liz the clue.

“Hope you remember this.” He said to himself before talking to Maria.

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”

Alex moved back. “Hope you got that.” He said sadly. Then he turned to Isabel and gave her a light kiss. He felt Isabel shiver. He smiled as he headed to the door. Then with a final look at the gang he headed back out.

~~ end dream walk~~



Alex opened his eyes slowly. He saw Serena looking at him cautiously.

“You okay?” she asked. “I felt something when you pulled out.”

“I’m fine.” Alex assured her.

“Did it work?” Liz asked anxiously.

Alex looked at her and smiled a little. “I’m pretty sure it did.”

Liz nodded relieved but still a bit apprehensively.

“It’s all in there hands now.” Serena said. “Let’s hope they can figure it out.”


TBC......

Part 22

They all sat in the Crash Down, the atmosphere gloomy and quiet. Everyone avoided eye contact, each in their own worlds. Tess sat next to Max in one of the booths with Kyle sitting opposite her. Max held her hand under the table, getting silent support from her. Right now he appreciated her help. Maria and Isabel sat on one of the stools near the counter, aimlessly stirring their drinks while Michael just stood leaning against a wall, staring stone-facedly ahead.

“A month today…” Tess whispered quietly.

“I remember…how could we not.” Isabel answered quietly. She looked at Max who had now grabbed a napkin from the dispenser. He began to shred the napkin into little pieces.

“You okay Max?” she asked.

Max looked up from the napkin he was shredding. “Hmm?” he asked distractedly. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

But he was lying; everyone could see that. He was not fine, neither of them were. How could they be? Today was Alex’s one-month death anniversary. Maria couldn’t believe it. It seemed so much longer.

“It’s time we let them go.” Tess said. She paused, as if anticipating a sharp comment. When no one said anything she went on. “We don’t have a choice, not if we want to stay alive.”

Everyone looked at her quietly but unresistingly. They knew she was right. They weren’t sure how to let go.

Maria played with her apron, blinking back the tears. She refused to cry, she would not cry.

God, Alex! I miss you so much! And Liz! She thought in agony.

Just then she thought she heard someone call her name. It sounded so much like Alex that she jerked her head up suddenly and looked about confused, almost expecting to see him standing there, calling her name. She listened harder but could hear nothing. She was about to shake it off when she heard it again, this time louder.

She sat up straighter. She was sure it was Alex!

“Alex?” Maria whispered quietly. Her eyes glimmered with puzzlement but also joy. “I miss you, Alex.”

Isabel gave her a curious look. Maria, realizing that she had spoken aloud shook her head slightly, clearing her head. She was being ridiculous, how could she have heard Alex? And to think she said that out loud. Isabel must think she was crazy. She sneaked a peek at Isabel and saw Isabel shiver slightly, her face confused, yet feeling something familiar.

“You okay, Iz?” Maria asked her, noticing her look.

Isabel frowned before nodding.

“I just thought I felt...” she stopped talking.

“Isabel?”

She shook her head and smiled a strained smile, her eyes showing her pain. “I’m fine. It was nothing.”

Michael glanced curiously at them before resuming his statue stance. Max, Tess and Kyle didn’t even notice. Maria shrugged it off. Maybe she was thinking about Alex and Liz a bit too much today, that’s all.


TBC.....

Note: look out for the next chapter later today. I plan to post tonight, so the updated date may not change.

Author's Note: Your wish is my command Sara


Part 23

Liz sighed to herself as she stood on the patio, staring at the sunset. The wind swept through her brown hair as she stood staring towards the general direction of Roswell.

She missed them. She missed them a lot. Sometimes she would find herself thinking that she would have to tell Maria this and this once she got back to Roswell, but would catch herself in time, remembering that there was no going back. Sometimes she woke up a night, wanting to go and sit on her balcony, hoping that Max would drop by. But when she would open her eyes, the unfamiliar setting would remind her just how far away from home she was.

And then there was Max. She closed her eyes against the memories she desperately tried to keep at bay. She knew that if she really allowed herself to long for him then she wouldn’t be able to stay on the sidelines. Alex had told her a few days ago that she shouldn’t try to hold back her memories and longings. When she had told him what she feared would happen if she let herself go he had laughed at her. He literally laughed at her.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, Liz.” He chuckled. “You have more will power than any one I’ve known. I think your stunt with the whole future Max proves that.”

Liz had bit her lip, not replying. She didn’t want to voice her other fears. She wasn’t sure she wanted to voice the news that she was beginning to feel Max change. Even apart she could still feel him, she could still sense him. It was a low hum inside her mind and body but it was there and it was distinctly Max. She wondered if the change meant he was moving on. But that thought hurt so much to contemplate that she quickly pushed it aside, vehemently ignoring it.

She felt Alex come up and stand behind her. She didn’t turn around but smiled anyway.

“Am I that loud?” she asked him.

Alex grinned and came to stand next to her. “Yep, you were pretty loud. Next time you brood, could you keep it down?” he joked.

Liz laughed a little, but still felt slightly awed by the fact that Alex was so in tune with her thoughts and emotions. For days he had been complaining about how he could sense all their friends’ moods and how depressed they were making him with their gloominess. But she was even more awed by the fact that he could sense her the most.

Probably because of the closeness. She told herself.

At first they talked about Roswell and their friends. He told her how Maria was trying to be strong but was grieving. He told her how Michael was trying to be there for her. He talked of Isabel and how he felt her love flow through him.

“She couldn’t have realized that she loved me when I was alive?” he grumbled good-naturedly, but Liz heard the slight sharpness in his voice.

He told her about how he had yet to pick up on Kyle and Tess since they hadn’t used the stones. When he stopped talking Liz waited expectantly for news about Max. But Alex didn’t say anything. He just avoided her eyes.

Suddenly it struck her why.

“So, you’ve felt it too?” she asked quietly, a dry laugh stuck in her throat.

“Yes.” He answered apologetically. He looked at her half hopefully. “It was to be expected Liz. With Tess there and you gone…he had to change…”

Liz nodded but didn’t say anything. She turned on her heels and started back inside.

“I didn’t expect it to be so soon…” he heard her whisper.


TBC....

Author's Note: All your thoughts and objections are noted! I'll be sure to keep them in mind....just a hint....coming up very, very soon you'll start to get an inkling of what's going on and why Max is acting this way...ohh I'm evil leaving you with such a cryptic message..


Part 24

Various assortments of pictures lay spread out on the Whitman’s kitchen table. They were all of either Liz or Alex. Maria and Michael sat around the table sifting through them.

“So, what’s this about?” Michael asked Maria as she critically looked over two pictures he had held up.

Waving aside one of them, she answered. “It’s like a two page spread for the school book. You know just memories and things they loved.” Maria told him.

“But the yearbook committee doesn’t need anything until the end of next month.” Michael pointed out, perplexed.

Maria sighed as she played with one of the pictures, not meeting his eyes. “I guess…I guess this is more to help me.” Maria replied quietly.

Michael reached across the table and took her hand, squeezing them gently. Maria looked at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

“I guess I just need something to keep me occupied, something that will keep my mind of…you know.”

Michael got up and came and sat down next to her. He hugged her gently, and kissed her. “I know I don’t listen to you too often and when I do I can be a real ass…”Michael paused when Maria chuckled weakly. “But, I am here for you. Whenever you need me just say the word and I’m there. I want to help you through this Maria.”

He stopped and looked her in the eyes, eyes that were looking at him with gratitude and relief. “I want to be there for you…”Michael finished softly.

Maria took his face in her hands and kissed him sweetly but lingeringly. “Thank you.” She finally said.

Michael smiled crookedly back at her and went back to his seat but still held her hand over the table.


* * * * * * * * * * *


“Where is it?” Maria grumbled in frustration as she searched frantically for the picture. “I know I took it out, where is it?”

“Relax Deluca!” Michael told her. “We’ll find it.”

“We have to. It’s the best picture of Liz and Alex together. I need it, it’s the main picture.” Maria sighed as she dropped unwanted pictures of the table and onto the floor. “Mrs. Whitman will kill me when she sees this mess.” She said to herself.

She tugged at her hair, agitated. “It’s here, I know it. Why can’t I find it!” she yelled.

Michael laid a calming hand on her shoulder. “Breathe Maria. Sniff some oil or something.” He coaxed. “Look, maybe you left it back in Alex’s room. I’ll look for it here and you go look for it’s there. It will turn up.”

Maria nodded, taking deep breathes to relax herself. Frustration would not help her. She headed to Alex’s room and quickly flipped through the pictures she had left behind on his desk. She was halfway through the stack when a book caught her eye.

She put down the pictures and hesitantly picked up the book. She ran her hand over the blue cover.

Robert Frost.

She sat down on his desk chair and stared at the book for a few seconds. Something important tugged at her memory but she couldn’t pinpoint what.

**Flash**

“Hope you remember this.”

** End flash**

Maria shook her head. She opened the marked page slowly, glancing at the Beth Orton concert tickets which Liz had been so sure were clues. She read the poem which had been Alex’s favorite and which Liz had read that day at his wake, convinced that it meant something.

“…The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.”

She furrowed her eyebrows, perplexed as she read it to herself. Something seemed off about this. Why did it seem important?

**Flash**

“…But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep…”

** End flash**

Maria closed her eyes as she had a vivid image of Alex sitting next to her at the Crash Down reciting the last verse. She opened them slowly and looked back down at the book still in her hands. She glanced at the tickets before gently placing them back from where she found them. She closed the book and placed it back on the table. She shrugged away the images as she began to search for the picture again.

Just me going crazy. She told herself as she finally found what she was looking for.

But as she headed back to Michael, she paused to look once back into his room and glanced curiously at the book again.

Could it be…? Maria began to wonder but then smiled ruefully as she closed Alex’s door and headed back to the table. Of course not. Alex and Liz died in accidents, not alien related deaths…right?


TBC......

Part 25

No one noticed the girl sitting by herself near the door. No one noticed her watching the small group of friends carefully, observantly. And that was the just what she had wanted. She had gone to drastic measures to change her appearance, her hair was longer and black, and her eyes brown instead of the piercing blue. But then with her powers it had taken only minutes to do so.

She aimlessly flipped through the magazine in front of her, throwing casual glances towards the others. She knew she was risking exposure by being here, they could recognize her easily if they tried, they would wonder why she was looking this way and she would be exposed. But she had wanted to do this, to try and see how cautious and nervous they were.

Liz and Alex’s death had shaken them. They were still trying to deal with it, forgetting their need to be careful of those around. She knew that had she done this only a month earlier she would have been caught. She was almost disappointed by their lack of security. Where once they made sure not to act too suspicious in a crowd, they were doing a poor job now.

Glancing over the magazine, she saw Kyle, Max and Isabel sitting in their regular booths. Kyle looked agitated and kept shooting furtive looks at Maria. Isabel and Max looked at Kyle oddly, wondering why he was acting so jumpy. But Maria was pointedly ignoring him as she sat next to Michel on stools, her yearbook spread lying scattered across the counter.

She briefly wondered why Kyle was acting so impatient and Maria was so pointedly ignoring him, but then she pushed it away. She had more important matters to deal with. Realizing that she was staring she quickly looked back down at her magazine. She didn’t notice the man come and sit down next to her until she felt his presence once he was sitting. She looked up startled but then smirked at him.

“Making sure if I’m all right?” she asked.

The man looked casually at the menu, answering while still looking over it. “No, making sure you don’t mess up.” He replied. He looked up and caught her irritated look and he gave her his cold, contemptuous look. She looked away quickly, not daring to defy him.

“Just make sure the others do their job properly and I’ll do mine just fine.” She replied curtly.

He nodded, tossing away the menu and looking over her carefully. “You know how much this all depends on you.” He told her finally. “They already trust you; you just have to use that to your own benefit.”

“I know how the thing works, okay?” she snapped, irritated that he didn’t think she could handle it.

“Just being careful.” He said, smiling coldly at her. “I’ve failed once; I don’t want to fail again.”

“If you thought Nicholas was going to help you defeat them then you were really a fool Kivar.” She replied with a scoff. “He was too direct.”

She looked thoughtfully at the others, watching as Kyle said something to Maria which caused her to look up in alarm. She saw Maria drag Kyle into the back room and she smiled to herself. This was going to be easy. She turned back her attention to Kivar.

“We need to be subtle in our attempt. Break in gradually and then take them when they least expect it.” She told him.

“Maybe you’re right.” Kivar relented. “But I’m not getting my hopes up yet.”

She shrugged, not really bothered. “We’ll know soon whether this works or not.” She replied. “Now go, I need to do my work. Just make sure your men are ready when I want.”

Kivar acknowledged this with a slight nod before getting up and casually walking away. She turned her attention back to the small group. She found her target walking away from the back room slowly, as if in a daze. She got up and picked up her glass of alien smoothie and began to walk causally in his direction. It was time she moved in.


TBC.....

Author's Note: Thanks you guys! You are so great! Okay just some thing to clear up: this next chapter is happening roughly around the same time as the last chapter, only this is from Kyle and Maria's POV and not the mysterious girl. Hope there is no confusion


Part 26

Kyle drummed his fingers insistently on the table top, all the while shooting Maria urgent looks which she kept ignoring. Kyle wanted to growl with frustration. He needed to talk to Maria but she was not willing to listen. Last night they had talked about whether to tell Max and the others about future Max but while he had been all for it, Maria had adamantly refused.

Although he had relented after some argument, sitting here with Isabel and Max he wasn’t sure if it had been the right decision. Looking at Max’s forlorn face, remembering the pain their lies had caused not only Max but Liz as well just spurred his determination to tell the others.

Liz had been his friend and he knew how much she had loved Max. He knew whatever she had done was to save them, but he couldn’t let Max remember her as the girl who betrayed him, as the girl who broke his heart.

Kyle threw Maria another look but she just furrowed her eyebrows and turned back to talk to Michael. Kyle sighed, drumming his fingers faster. Finally he felt Isabel’s hand clamp down on his. He looked up to see her irritated face.

“Could you please stop that annoying drumming!” she exclaimed frustrated.

“Sorry, I didn’t even realize I was doing that.” Kyle apologized.

“You okay man?” Max asked quizzically, seeing his jumpy behaviour.

Kyle looked at Max quietly for a few seconds, seeing the flicker of sadness still lining his eyes and made up his mind.

“You know what, I’ll be right back.” He told them, ignoring their confused looks and purposefully made his way to Maria.

“Hey Kyle,” Michael said, once he reached them. He held up two pictures of Liz. “Mind giving us a hand? Which one do we use?”

Kyle absently pointed to the one on the left, then turned back to look at Maria, who was almost waiting for him to say something.

Kyle shot Michael a look before leaning down and whispering almost fiercely. “If you won’t do it, I will!” he hissed.

“No Kyle.” Maria protested. “We already decided on it yesterday.”

“No, you decided. Not me.” Kyle pointed out. “I want to tell them and I am going to. Right now.” He turned and began to head back to the table.

“What was he talking about Maria?” Michael asked.

But Maria ignored him as she looked fearfully at Kyle’s retreating back. She jumped down from the stool and grabbed Kyle, dragging him to the back room. “We need to talk.” She hissed.


* * * * * * * * * * *


“What the hell are you trying to do?” Maria yelled at him once they were safely in the back room.

Kyle folded his arms somewhat defiantly across his chest. “I’m trying to make things right Maria!” Kyle told her, his voice hard. “Because that’s what friends do, try to make things right for each other!”

“Do you really think telling them, telling Max now will make any difference?” Maria asked incredulously. “In case you haven’t realized Kyle. It’s. Too. Late.”

Her hard glare dropped for a moment as she looked sadly around her. “It won’t matter anymore because she is gone. She’s gone Kyle, dead! Nothing can make it better!” Maria cried.

Kyle’s gaze softened somewhat at the look on Maria’s face.

“He should know.” Kyle told her gently but firmly. “He deserves to know what really happened that day.”

Maria looked at him with deep pain in her eyes. “You’ll only be opening old wounds Kyle.” She told him, her voice now soft and sad. “Liz didn’t tell him until now for a reason. She swore us to secrecy. I’m not about to break that.”

“First of all, Liz wanted to tell him and you know it. She would have eventually told him.” Kyle interjected. “And as for secrecy, are you willing to let Liz be remembered that way?”

When Maria didn’t answer him, he went on. “Liz was my friend too. I didn’t like what I had to do that night. But I did it anyway. Why? Because Liz asked me to. Because she had to save the fucking world. And after what happened after that, I have hated agreeing to it. I have hated the way Max thinks of her. Like a betrayer, like someone who cheated on him.”

Kyle’s voice had grown louder, edging towards anger. He took a breath to calm himself. Maria still hadn’t said anything, just sitting with her hands clasped on the sofa as Kyle paced around. He stopped, turned to her, pleading with her.

“Our future selves decided to play God with our lives. Especially Liz’s. ” Kyle reminded her. “They had no right to do that. None at all! For all we know Alex and Liz could have died because of these changes.”

“Liz died in a plane crash Kyle, not some alien conspiracy.” Maria replied softly, still not meeting his eyes as she stared at the floor.

“Who knows?” Kyle replied throwing his hands up in the air. “We might never know.”

Finally Maria looked up at him. “I get what you are saying, but what does this have to do with telling Max about how Liz had to sacrifice him to Tess, just so the world wouldn’t end?” Maria asked, sarcasm tingeing her voice.

“Everything boils down it.” Kyle replied. “It always boils down to the aliens and our secrets.”

“It was Liz’s secret to tell Kyle.” Maria told him quietly. “We don’t have any right—”

“Well Liz isn’t here, is she?” Kyle asked, his voice hard, cutting Maria off. “You said it yourself. She’s gone, dead. And that leaves us to pick up the pieces. And one of those pieces just happens to be this…this…secret we are harbouring.”

“It won’t make a difference if they know. Nothing can be done.” Maria argued weakly.

“You’re right. It won’t make any difference now. That’s why we can tell them. Because it’s too late to do anything.” Kyle pointed out.

Maria raised tired eyes to look at Kyle and he saw the silent agreement in them. “What will we tell them Kyle?” she asked softly, her voice choked. “How will we tell them?”

Kyle sat down next to her, putting his arms around her shoulder as she leaned her head against his shoulder. “Well we’ll start with how future Max, trying to be el presidentè, told Liz that he had to make her fall out of love with him to save the world.” Kyle said matter-of-factly, his voice light and trying to be humorous. “Then we tell them how I pretended to sleep with her to help her out.”

Suddenly he grinned. “What?” Maria asked cautiously, seeing it.

“This is going to be probably the weirdest ‘talk’ ever! I think this surpasses the ‘I-am-an-alien’ speech. Don’t you think?” he asked her.

Maria let out a small chuckle. “By far the weirdest!” she agreed.

As they sat there side by side in silence they didn’t hear the door silently swing shut as Michael retreated back out, his face pale.


TBC.....

AN: Thanks you guys! And welcome to my story vegas312! Glad you're enjoying it so far!


Part 27

Michael listened in shock as Maria and Kyle fought. He gripped the wall to support himself as he felt his knees go weak when he heard about what Liz had done. He had to stifle his impulse to barge in the room, demanding to know everything.

He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop but when Maria had dragged Kyle in here, he had gone to see if everything was all right. But he had just opened the door a crack when he heard Maria telling Kyle that it was too late to tell Max now.

Tell Max what? He had wondered and almost instinctively kept out of sight as he listened to their conversation. The guilt he felt at first for doing this was gradually replaced by a sick feeling in his stomach, which made way for his anger.

His hands clenched into fists, his anger seeping through. He didn’t understand fully what had happened but he understood enough to know that Liz had given the ultimate sacrifice. When he heard about how Max’s future version had told her to do so, he nearly fell over from shock. He didn’t understand how that was possible.

Apparently it was possible. He thought angrily, remembering how Max had been so broken when he had seen Kyle and Liz together.

Michael strained to hear what Kyle and Maria were talking about as they had stopped their shouting match. He heard the pleading in Kyle’s voice as he asked her to reconsider telling the others. He heard the resignment in her voice as she finally, reluctantly agreed.

Michael backed away from the door, closing it lightly behind him. His head felt overloaded with this news. He felt so many emotions rush through him. Sympathy for Max and Liz, guilt for not knowing before hand, anger at Liz for keeping this to herself, anger at Maria and Kyle for not telling them but most of anger at Max’s future version.

Michael slowly walked back to the counter, Maria and Kyle’s words spinning in his head. He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the customer walking towards him, not until he bumped into her, sending her alien smoothie down the front of her shirt and his.

“Oh!” the girl cried in horror.

Michael looked at the girl embarrassed slightly. Her long brown hair speckled with drops of the drink.

“I am so sorry.” He apologized.

The girl turned fiery brown eyes at him. “Couldn’t you watch where you’re going?” she snapped, grabbing the napkins Michael held out to her.

She began to wipe the drink furiously off her shirt, all the while glaring at him.

“You weren’t watching either.” Michael said irritably when she glared dirtily at him.

“I wasn’t watching!” the girl cried incredulously. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Tell me are all of the people in Roswell so rude?”

“Hey lady,” Michael said, “I’m sorry okay. The next drink is on the house.”

“I knew stopping in this small town was a bad idea.” The girl grumbled to herself. “Who’s going to pay for this shirt?” she demanded.

“There’s a dry cleaner across town. They aren’t too expensive. I think you can pay for the cleaning.” Michael told her, irritated by her attitude.

The girl’s glare turned icy. She poked him in the chest as she replied angrily. “I think I want a rain check on the free drink! I need to go wash this!” she replied.

Michael, now just anxious to get rid of her, grabbed a napkin scribbling something hastily on it and handed it to her.

“Here.” He said gruffly.

The girl extended her hand to take it and when he hand brushed against his, Michael had to stop from gasping as a flash surrounded his senses.

**Flash**

The girl was in her car, going down towards Roswell when she saw a girl standing on the road, asking for a hike. She slowed down the car and a familiar blond head with various piercing popped in.

“Hey, You goin’ to Roswell?” the blond girl asked.

“Yeah. Hop in.” the driver replied with a smile.

“Cool.” The hitch hiker replied scrambling in.

Once on their way, the blond turned to the brunette and smiled crookedly. “Thanks for helpin’ me. Don’t know how freakin’ long I would have had to stand their waiting for a ride, you know?” she said in an accented voice. “By the way, name’s Ava.”

** End flash**

Michael stared in surprise at the girl in front of him, can’t believing what he saw. Ava was in town!

“You okay?” she asked, seeing his curious look. But Michael didn’t answer her as he grabbed his coat and quickly left the café.


TBC....

Author's Note: Thank you all so much!!

Part 28

Michael revved his motorbike, spurring it to go faster. He felt the power of the bike travel up is legs and to his body and he just let his body be swallowed in the intoxicating power. The wind hit his helmet, trying to break through but he just drove faster, trying to out run his thoughts but they kept up with him, mile after mile.

The familiar roads of Roswell soon turned into the barren desert but Michael didn’t stop as he veered of the road and onto the desert, heading with no particular direction in mind, but just letting his fancy guide him.

He hoped that if he got far enough from Roswell then maybe he could straighten out his tangled thoughts, maybe make some sense of them but the further he got away, the more confused he got.

What happened with Liz that she didn’t want Max to know? Why did she do it alone? What happened in the future that made Max try to change the past? What about that flash I got from that girl about Ava? Is she back in town? If so then where is she? Thoughts kept swirling in his mind at lightening speed until he could make no sense of them.

Finally, tired of riding, Michael brought his bike to an abrupt halt. Michael took off his helmet and placed it on the seat before getting off and looking at where he was. He snorted when he saw where he was.

That nookie motel. He thought with a wry chuckle. Figures.

Mental images of him and Maria here came rushing back to him and he smiled slightly to himself, remembering how he had been irritated at her, at how she had affected him.

Things had changed so drastically between them. She had managed to bring down his stonewall. She had managed to make him feel wanted, loved. And he was so sure he could read her well.

Then why didn’t you see this coming? He berated himself. How could you not she was keeping something so major from you?

He scratched his eyebrow. He wanted to know the details. He got the gist but he got a feeling that there was a lot more behind it. He grabbed his helmet and pulled it on fiercely. He leaped on to the bike and started it up determinedly, heading back towards Roswell.

It’s time Maria and I had a talk. He thought as he drove faster towards the café.


* * * * * * * * * * *


He didn’t know why he was going through this part of town back to the café. He had barely used it but somehow he felt the compulsion to go through here.

Who cares what way I use, just as long as I get to Maria. He thought dismissing the thought from his mind. On his way back he turned to another pressing matter. Ava.

Is she really back in town or is that something that is going to happen? He wondered. He was surprised by the clarity of the flash as he had never had one like this. Why did he have it anyway? Was it important, her coming back here? If so then why?

He tried to pacify himself with the thought that maybe Max could shed some light on this once he got back to the Crash Down but there was an uneasiness settling in his stomach, like something just wasn’t right.

Why did I leave the Crash Down anyway? He wondered. I was upset, but fleeing…? It was like I couldn’t control my urge to flee.

Trying to shake these disturbing thoughts and the path they were taking, he concentrated on just getting back to Maria. He was passing through an especially deserted street when he thought he heard someone scream. He tried to ignore it but only halfway down the block he heard it again, followed by a distinct crashing sound.

He stopped his bike and strained to hear where the sound had come from. Noticing it came from the alley Michael hurried to it. What he saw there made the gnawing feeling in his stomach increase.

He saw a familiar blond trying to fend of five approaching men. He saw her raise her hand and throw an energy blast at one, which effectively turned it to dust.

Skins! Michael realized with alarm.

“Ava, watch out!” Michael yelled to the New Yorker when a second skin managed to grab her from the behind. Michael went into a sprint, and threw the skin to the end of the alley with his powers.

“Michael!” Ava gasped, her eyes relieved. “I could need some freakin’ help here.”

Not saying another word Michael picked up a metal rod conveniently lying in the alley and smashed it into the back of two skins. Now there was only one left.

Ava and Michael approached it menacingly. He began to back away, not noticing he was trapped.

“You’ll never win against my Lord Kivar!” He hissed.

“Care to wager that?” Michael smirked as he blew him up with his powers.

The alien disappeared into a ball of dust. With the threat of the skins gone Michael turned to look at Ava, who was shaking, a cut lining her eye and forearm.

“You okay?” he asked.

She nodded.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Michael demanded.

“I came to help you guys out; you know do the nice thing.” She replied dryly. “Ever since Liz helped me I’ve been thinkin’. It’ll be nice to do for you what you’ve done for me. And so when I realized somethin’s happenin’ in town just thought I’d give you a heads up.”

“You could have given the heads up earlier when you arrived.” Michael retorted.

“How’d you know I was here this afternoon?” she asked surprised.

“I had a heads up.” Michael smirked.

“No wonder you ain’t surprised.” Ava replied, understanding what he meant by the heads up.

“Yeah…” Michael scratched his eyebrow in confusion as he looked about the desolate and run down place. “What are you doing in this area?” he asked.

Ava rolled her eyes like it was obvious. “Like I could afford anythin’ better.” She said.

“I would have thought you’d stay with us.” Michael said.

Ava looked pleasantly surprised by the offer. “You offerin’?” she joked. She chuckled at his embarrassed look. “Nah, I was thinking of deckin’ it out at Liz’s if it’s all right with her.”

“What?” she asked seeing the look that passed across Michael’s face.

“Nothing.” Michael replied quickly. He jerked his head towards the street. “My bike’s that way. I was going to the Crash Down. I’ll take you.” He offered.

Ava smiled. “Thanks man.”

“Yeah. Whatever.” Michael replied, looking away as he headed to his bike. Ava was in for some surprise and not pleasant ones, that’s for sure. He thought sadly.

TBC...

AN: Heheheh...you'll have to wait for a lot of things are some things are just...well inevitable. They have to occur if the story needs to play out. You'll find out soon enough...


Part 29

Maria walked back into the café after she had managed to calm herself down. Max and Isabel noticed that her eyes were red and puffy as if she had been crying but didn’t mention it, not wanting to make the girl more upset. They knew how high strung she was.

Kyle led her back to the table, all the while talking to her quietly. He stopped talking once they were at the table and seated.

“Everything okay?” Isabel asked cautiously.

Maria nodded. “Yeah, everything’s fine.” She looked around. “Where’s Michael?” she asked.

“He rushed off suddenly after a bump in with a customer. I think he went to change.” Max replied.

Maria nodded. She and Kyle exchanged glances which Max immediately noticed. He saw that they were both acting hesitant and nervous. He didn’t know why but he suddenly wasn’t feeling too good about this.

Max opened his mouth to ask Maria and Kyle what was bugging them when Tess sauntered over to their table.

“Hi guys!” she greeted and promptly sat down next to Kyle. “What’s up?”

Suddenly Kyle glanced at Maria and leaned forward. “Actually, Maria and I need to tell you guys something.” He said in a low voice. “Something…alien related.”

“What?” Isabel asked, fear creeping into her voice. “What is it?”

“I think we should wait for Michael.” Maria replied, laying a warning hand on Kyle. She didn’t want to panic the others.

“Well I guess we won’t have to wait long.” Tess replied pointing towards the front where Michael came barging in.

He rushed towards their table, attracting a few curious stares from the customers.

“Right on time Guerin,” Kyle said. “Maria and I were…”

“Save it.” He said, a bit breathless. “We’ve got a problem Maxwell.”

“That seems to be the favorite topic of the day.” Max replied.

“What?” Michael asked.

“Well, Maria and I were about to tell…”Kyle began again but futilely.

“Never mind about you and Maria!” Michael almost yelled. “We need to go somewhere where we can talk privately. Liz’s room. Now.”

“Liz’s room?” Max protested weakly. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea Michael.”

“Max, take a deep breath and walk into that room.” Michael ordered. “Like I said we’ve got a problem.”

“And like Kyle said, we need to tell you guys something!” Maria objected.

Michael turned to glare at her. “It can wait.”

“No, it can’t Michael.” Maria cried glaring back at him.

“What could be so important Michael?” Isabel asked, effectively breaking the staring contest between Maria and Michael.

Michael looked around the group before saying in a low voice, “Ava’s back and she’s waiting upstairs for us.”

“Or maybe our talk can wait…”Maria said weakly, as a shocked silence descended upon the table.


* * * * * * * * * * *


Everyone was huddled into Liz’s room and kept looking over at Ava, wondering what had brought her back here. Ava though a bit uncomfortable by their stares, pretended to act unaffected.

“What are you doing here Ava?” Max asked once they were settled down.

“Like I told Michael, heard somethin’ was goin’ down in Roswell and came to give you a heads up.” She replied.

“What’s going on?” Isabel asked.

Ava looked at her, giving her a pointed look. “You’re in trouble.” She replied.

“Isabel?” Kyle asked.

Ava broke her gaze from Isabel’s. She looked around the small group. “No. All of you.” She replied. Then she paused, looking over them again, her eye brows furrowing. “Yo, where’s Liz and the geek?” she asked.

Everyone suddenly looked away, not meeting her eyes. Maria’s eyes got teary and Michael held her in a loose hug.

“I’m a big girl, know?” she replied, noticing their silence. “I can take the fact that they don’t want nothin’ to do with me.”

“That’s not it.” Max replied quietly, still not meeting her eyes.

“So, what’s the deal?” she demanded.

“Umm…Liz and Alex…”Max began softly, not sure how to say it, for it still pained him. “Liz…”

“Quit stallin’ and freakin’ tell me already, aight?”

“They…um…”Isabel began, trying to tell her since her brother had gone silent. “They’re um…”

“They’re dead.” Tess finished for them. She looked Ava in the eyes. “They died. Alex a month ago in a car crash and Liz around three weeks ago in a plane crash.”

Ava sat down abruptly on the nearest chair, shock lining her features. “You fuckin’ kiddin’ me right?” she asked weakly.

“No.” Kyle managed to whisper. “No, we’re not.”

“Fuck!” she shouted, springing up. She looked at them somewhat angrily. “This’ll play to his advantage! But you’ve got to stop whatever his plan is.” she cried.

“Who’s advantage? Who’s plan?” Michael asked.

“Kivar’s” Ava answered simply. “He’s here and he’s lookin’ for the Royal Four.”


TBC...

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait guys but I had some problems but I'm back! hope you like...

Part 30

Serena and Alex watched from one corner of the room as Liz concentrated on the rock into front of her. Her hand was raised, spread open wide as tried to blow it up. She tried to let her energy flow through her body and into her hand as Serena had taught her to do. But try as she might she couldn’t blow up the rock. Refusing to give up, she narrowed her eyes, almost willing the power to flow into her hand.

“Liz, don’t force it. Let it come naturally.” Serena guided from the sideline. But Liz relented only partially, intent on getting this right.

A slight sheen on sweat lined her face as she tried to keep her concentration from wavering. Her mind was slipping, she could feel it.

No! This has to work! She thought determinedly. She pushed herself harder until finally she felt a power course through her body and onto her hand. She smiled inwardly as she felt the power crackling in her hand. Aiming it at the rock, she tried to project it on to it. A small energy blast, like the one she had used against Alex in training formed but when she tried to use it to blow up the rock, it wouldn’t work.

“Liz, release your energy. Don’t force the connection. If it’s not happening, let it go.” Serena told her.

“It has to work.” Liz grunted, refusing to let the energy slip back.

“Liz…”Serena admonished softly.

“No!” Liz cried as she pushed herself to the limit. Without warning the energy blast left her and hit the rock. But much to her dismay the rock didn’t blow up. “Damn it!” she cursed, growling in frustration.

“Easy Parker.” Alex soothed.

But Liz stomped towards where they were standing. “Why isn’t it working Serena?” She demanded, frustration edging her voice. “I mean I should be able to do this! I can conjure up energy balls but why can I not blow things up!” she cried.

“Maybe because it’s not your power.” Serena replied thoughtfully.

Liz looked dubiously at her. “So, I can do energy blasts but not actually blast things?” she asked.

“Each alien has the power to conjure up that blast but so far only Michael has displayed the power to blow things up. Maybe that’s for a reason.” She pointed out.

“God, I hate this!” Liz muttered. “How can I expect to help them if I can’t get my powers straight?”

“You’ll get there Liz.” Alex promised. “One step at a time right?”

Liz managed a small smile. “Right.” She sighed.

“You’ll get it soon.” Serena told her. “We’ll figure it out, don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah.” Alex added. “It took a while for my honing signals to warm up but I figured them out eventually.”

“What if we don’t figure them out in time?” Liz asked.

“Then we’ll see.” Serena said. “Right now, just be patient.”

Liz nodded. “You’re right.” She replied. “It will—”

Her words got cut off as her knees buckled, giving way beneath her. She gasped at the abruptness with which the assortment of images flashed before her. She felt Alex grabbing her before she fell on the ground but she barely noticed as the images passed violently across her eyes.

**Flash**

“Max no!” she heard herself shout.

Max’s face contorted with pain and shock as he silently fell to the ground. She saw his body lying in a pool of blood…his blood!

“Long live King Zan.” A mocking voice echoed.

“Kivar!” Michael yelled, his hands raised, aiming at the invisible assailant.

“You’re too late Rath.” She heard Kivar reply with smugness. “You’re all too late.”

** End flash**

Liz opened her eyes slowly, feeling dazed and light headed. She realized she was on the floor with Alex holding her up. She felt Alex tighten his hold on her as she gave him a stunned look.

“Liz?” Serena’s concerned voice broke through her hazy barrier. “Are you all right? What happened?”

Liz shook her head slightly to clear her head. Her frightened eyes met Serena’s concerned ones.

“I think I just figured out my powers…”

TBC....